All images courtesy of Riot Games
While this patch may not bring as many significant changes as the last, top-tier champions are still being knocked from their dominant positions.
League of Legends (LoL) Patch 14.20 is here, introducing a variety of changes to champions and items that shake up the meta across all roles. As we dive into this patch, it’s time to reassess which champions are rising to the top of their roles and which are struggling to keep up. Let’s break down the latest tier list by role and see how the meta has shifted.
Top Lane
OP: Nasus, Camille, Shen
S: Gragas, Udyr, Darius, Ornn, Urgot, Gwen, Kled, Illaoi, Tahm Kench, Malphite, Mordekaiser, Cho’Gath, Zac, Volibear, Cassiopeia, Warwick, Yorick, Kennen, Singed
A: Pantheon, Sion, Dr. Mundo, Sett, Fiora, Quinn, Ryze, Akshan, Rengar, Sylas, Jax, Aatrox, Riven, Poppy, Trundle, Kayle, Gnar
B: Garen, Wukong, Renekton, Jayce, Vayne, Aurora, Teemo, Tryndamere, Heimerdinger, Karma, Yone, Irelia, Vladimir
C: K’Sante, Skarner, Rumble, Akali
D: Varus, Smolder, Twisted Fate
Winners:
- Shen is emerging as a top pick due to the buff to tank items like Heartsteel, pushing fighter items out of the spotlight. His synergy with hyper-carry ADCs such as Kog’Maw and Kai’Sa strengthens his role in team compositions.
- Nasus continues to dominate after benefitting from Grasp of the Undying nerfs, making him even more viable in the current patch.
- S-tier champions such as Gragas, Udyr, and Darius remain strong with their versatility and engage potential. Tanks like Ornn and Malphite thrive in team fights and have maintained their top spots.
Losers:
- Champions like Varus and Twisted Fate struggle in the top lane, dropping to D-tier as they fail to find relevance in the current meta.
Jungle
OP: Viego
S: Udyr, Amumu, Karthus, Nocturne, Taliyah, Fiddlesticks, Nunu & Willump, Zac, Gwen, Warwick, Volibear, Xin Zhao, Kayn, Jarvan IV
A: Skarner, Shyvana, Graves, Lee Sin, Briar, Lillia, Shaco, Elise, Bel’Veth, Evelynn, Master Yi, Trundle, Rek’Sai, Talon, Ivern, Poppy, Ekko, Kha’Zix, Brand, Kindred
B: Rammus, Rumble, Diana, Nidalee, Vi, Olaf, Pantheon, Zed, Jax, Hecarim, Sejuani, Gragas, Wukong
C: Rengar, Akshan
D: Maokai, Zyra, Qiyana
Winners:
- Viego secures the OP-tier, excelling due to his snowball potential and adaptability.
- Graves benefits from the buffs to The Collector, giving him more power in the mid-game, making him an A-tier standout.
- Udyr and Amumu remain solid picks despite dropping out of OP-tier, as their tankiness and crowd control still make them valuable assets in the jungle.
Losers:
- Maokai and Zyra have dropped to D-tier, struggling to make an impact in the jungle this patch.
Mid Lane
OP: Aurelion Sol, Hwei, Sylas
S: Kassadin, Nasus, Taliyah, Vex, Anivia, Lux, Xerath, Lissandra, Vel’Koz, Annie, Galio, Swain, Cassiopeia, Neeko, Ahri, Diana, Naafiri
A: Syndra, Akshan, Zoe, Yone, Malzahar, Malphite, Ryze, Orianna, Veigar, Twisted Fate, Ekko, Akali, Vladimir, Viktor, Aurora, Yasuo
B: LeBlanc, Zed, Fizz, Karma, Jayce, Katarina, Heimerdinger, Ziggs, Brand, Irelia, Qiyana, Pantheon, Talon
C: Azir, Lucian, Ezreal
D: Tristana, Corki, Smolder, Zeri
Winners:
- Sylas returns to the OP tier after Syndra’s Luden’s Tempest and Stormsurge nerfs push her down to A-tier.
- Qiyana benefits from shifting her build to Blackfire Torch, keeping her as a solid pick in the current meta.
Losers:
- Syndra and LeBlanc both suffer due to the Luden’s Tempest nerf, which significantly weakens their mid-game power spikes, causing them to drop in the rankings.
Bottom Lane (ADC)
OP: Kai'Sa, Kog'Maw
S: Nilah, Draven, Ka'Sa, Ashe, Jinx, Seraphine, Lux, Karthus, Hwei, Brand, Ziggs
A: Caitlyn, Samira, Jhin, Miss Fortune, Veigar, Swain, Twitch, Vayne, Lucian
B: Aphelios, Kalista, Ezreal, Yasuo, Xayah, Sivir, Varus
C: Zeri, Tristana, Smolder
Winners:
- Kai’Sa and Kog’Maw remain the top picks, with Kog’Maw thriving due to meta changes favouring his hyper-carry playstyle.
- Caitlyn rises to A-tier, benefiting from The Collector and buffs to her kit, making her a stronger laning phase pick.
Losers:
- Jhin moves down to A-tier due to nerfs to his AD growth and R damage. The nerf to Static Shiv further weakens him.
- Zeri drops to C-tier, struggling to find relevance as one of the weakest ADCs in this patch.
Support
OP: Senna, Lulu
S: Poppy, Nami, Braum, Xerath, Sona, Janna, Milio, Thresh, Vel’Koz, Pyke, Taric, Rell
A: Lux, Neeko, Soraka, Karma, Seraphine, Bard, Zyra, Zac, Galio, Shen, LeBlanc, Shaco, Blitzcrank, Zilean
B: Maokai, Hwei, Sylas, Brand, Camille, Heimerdinger, Swain, Renata Glasc, Yuumi, Pantheon, Teemo, Morgana, Nautilus, Alistar, Rakan
C: Ashe, Twitch, Malphite
Winners:
- Lulu retains her dominance in the OP tier, receiving buffs alongside indirect nerfs to melee supports, making her a prime pick for enchanter-heavy team compositions.
- Thresh and Rakan continue to be strong S-tier picks, providing engage potential and crowd control.
Losers:
- Poppy drops in effectiveness due to nerfs, pushing her down the tier list, while Trailblazer, an item benefiting melee supports like Thresh and Rakan, remains underutilised despite buffs.
Although the changes aren't Champions like Syndra and Aphelios will be closely monitored as they adapt to the new meta. Keep an eye on the mid-patch update to see how these champions and others will fare as the patch progresses.
